Citrate-Complexation Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of Y6MoO12:Eu Nanocrystalline.

Y6MoO12 doped with Eu3+ was synthesized using a citrate-complexation route, and was calcined at 800 °C and 1400 °C, respectively. The structure, morphology and photoluminescence (PL) properties of the samples, and their dependence on the crystallite size were investigated. XRD patterns indicate that the Y6MoO12:Eu3+ powder was obtained at both calcination temperatures, and had a cubic structure. The results also suggest that Y6MoO12:Eu3+ calcined at 800 °C was in the nanocrystalline phase, which was confirmed by the SEM microimage. The crystalline size was about 140 nm. Both phosphors could be excited via three channels: f-f excitation of Eu3+ by blue light, MoO groups excitation by near-UV light, and charge transfer state excitation of Eu3+ by UV light. Both samples yielded red light emissions dominated by the 5D0-7F2 transition at 613 nm. The excitation efficient of the three channels depended on the calcination temperature. The energy transfer from the MoO groups to the Eu3+ ions was more effective in the nanocrystalline phase. The temporal decay feature of the phosphor was also characterized.